Well - Part XXVIII

I finally managed to get a job offer. It certainly wasn’t anything that I was crazy about but at this stage of the game, I needed gainful employment and any notion of pride or career was going to have to be put on the back burner.

The position was as a food service person in a local hospital. I assisted in the preparation of and delivery of meals to the patients who had the misfortune of being ill and in this institution. I was grateful for the job and the money. In perhaps a month or two, I could perhaps find a cheap apartment. In time, I hoped that I could perhaps even contribute to Jennifer’s medical expenses. I was about to become a dad.

I finally got a chance to visit Cheryl. It was so sad it broke my heart. She was technically and physically sound but the woman I loved (I think still…) was somewhere in a pretty stiff medicated haze. She barely acknowledged my presence in the room let alone acknowledging any recognition of who I was.

I brought some flowers and said that I would check back before Xmas. Her family thanked me and I took my leave.

My next stop during that weekend was to check in with Jennifer. Jennifer’s family were a bit of an enigma. Her parents divorced about seven years ago. Her dad was a successful business man who seemed to like to keep most people including his family at arm’s length. Her Mom was a lovely woman who was brought up in the strictest New England traditions. She was a devout Catholic who was certainly affected greatly by her divorce. She seemed to have a real hard time acclimated to life as a single woman. She had a tendency to continue to live in denial of that aspect of her life. She spoke, acted and expected her family including her husband to be at the dinner table during all meals.

Jennifer was a little worried about her Mom. I hadn’t had much exposure to her family and thought I should at least make an appearance during this holiday. I told Jen that I would accompany her for Christmas Eve at her Mom’s house.

I still hadn’t resolved in my head (and heart) what my involvement was going to be with Jennifer in the immediate future and beyond.

My first paychecks were spent almost entirely on back bills. It was going to have to be a pretty bare bones holiday season. I had to get some new clothes. I didn’t want to show up at Jennifer’s Mom’ house looking like a street urchin (or a food service worker).

That night went better than I had envisioned it going. We managed to avoid most of the truly awkward questions about any future for Jennifer and I. There was some talk about the baby and how “next Christmas” was going to be different with another “little one” in the house again.

Jen’s mom asked me about my family and what my plans for the rest of the holiday were. I told her that I was likely going to be eating Christmas dinner with my sister’s family (although, truthfully, I hadn’t even worked that out. I knew my sister wouldn’t turn me out but our relations were somewhat strained of late). The evening featured a very nice meal and I hoped I made a decent impression.